Detecting the T1 cattle haplogroup in the Iberian Peninsula from Neolithic to medieval times: new clues to continuous cattle migration through time

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe spread of domestic animals through time is one of the topics studied by archaeologists to assess human trade and migration. Here we present mitochondrial analysis of 42 archaeological cattle (Bos taurus) bone samples, from 16 different sites in the Iberian Peninsula and covering a broad timeframe (from the early Neolithic to the Middle Ages), to provide evidence about the origin and dispersion of the T1 cattle haplogroup in relation to human contacts and movements. The presence of the T1 haplotype in one sample from an early Neolithic site close to the Mediterranean coast of Iberia, and its continuing presence in the Peninsula during Roman and Medieval times, clearly demonstrates that T1 was not solely a Muslim or later introduction. Rather, our molecular data show evidence for a pioneer coastal colonisation of the Iberian Peninsula from the Mediterranean basin, followed by possible further colonisation, leading to a continuity of diversity through time.

Human and ecological determinants of the spatial structure of local breed diversity

“…We acknowledge that the time range covered by the analysis does not incorporate relevant processes of demic and cultural diffusion related to livestock prior to the appearance of surnames in the 13 th century. Phylogenetic data shows that livestock accompanied humans in their migrations throughout the last millennia 20 , which has also been described for Spain 61 .…”

Proteomic and metagenomic insights into prehistoric Spanish Levantine Rock Art

“…Stockbreeding is only confirmed in the Iberian Peninsula from the 6 th millennium cal. BC onwards, coinciding with the arrival and spread of the “Neolithic package” 28 , 29 . The main purposes of ovicaprine and bovine stockbreeding was believed to have been for human food-source and labour (animal draught), but several studies on lipid residues and slaughter profiles of domesticated ruminants in Northern Mediterranean have also recently proved the early exploitation of dairy products, probably representing a subsistence strategy for early farming communities 30 .…”

Livestock Trade during the Early Roman Period: First Clues from the Trading Post of Empúries (Catalonia)

“…Another reason for focusing on cattle is that the diversification and movement of Bos taurus has been extensively investigated using mitochondrial (mt) DNA analyses of both modern and ancient samples (for example: Troy et al , ; Beja‐Pereira et al ., ; Bollongino et al ., ; Ginja et al ., ; Colominas et al ., ). Using data from these previous studies allows us to compare genetic diversity with our Empúries sequences.…”

“…This information is valuable to the study of animal manipulation and improvement (Albarella, ; Tekkouk & Guintard, ; Klein et al ., ), and data can inform on animal mobility (Lauwerier, ; Murphy et al ., ; Vigne et al ., ). Ancient DNA analyses allow genetic characterisation of contemporaneous populations, providing information on issues such as migration (for example, Edwards et al ., ; Bollongino et al ., ; Tresset et al ., ; Colominas et al ., ). Thus, the combined use of osteometry and genetics has great potential to give us a better understanding of the trade in animals in the past.…”